Friday, June 30, 2017

Galveston Daily News, October 1, 1883
The two-year-old son of James Seller, postmaster at Center Point, Kerr county, was drowned in a well.

The Graham Leader, October 6, 1883
Dolf's Rambling Reminiscences
I
left San Antonio at 7 a.m. for Kerrville, some 76 miles, in a
four-horse stage. I had for companions the silent man, the broken
English-speaking German, a gentleman and lady from Saratoga Springs,
N.Y., with a three-year-old boy, and a newly imported Englishman up with
the driver. Observing the crowded condition, my first inquiry directed
to the New York man was, "how far are you going?" "o Kerrville!". I
thought "Oh Lord" and mentioned my reflections, and when I said "So am
I" there was evident a general lack of appreciation for each other's
company. We lost the German 18 miles out, the silent man went to Boerne
30 miles while the balance remained till 12:30 that night when we
arrived at Kerrville. The roads were heavy from recent rains and we
having much baggage our progress was slow and monotonous, except when
the latter was relieved by a bright snatch of song, a sally of wit or
funny story from the intelligent New Yorker or his accomplished wife. I
did not intend to burden this lady with the labor of relieving all the
tedium of the trip, for the many stage stands on this route, with the
temptation of Anheiser's beer at 25 cents per quart bottle, was too
tempting to be resisted and we averaged a bottle to every hour of
tedium. In this maker [sic] I found the Englishman a capital hand. The
little boy was excellent and reflected much credit on his parents, and
if I was not afraid my wife would hear of it I'd say I nursed him
several miles. The lady stood the 75 miles ride wonderfully, and had
the courage to take a buggy at 12:50 the same night and finish her
journey of six miles, but I'll wager my Jersey that she thought she was
some one else the next day. I confess, my week's constant riding broke
me all up, and I yearned for some of the quietude of the home circle.
...
Here I found another Young [county] countryman, W. F. James,
one of the pioneers--coming to Young Co. with J. R. Jowell, Alex McLaren
and others. He is now county judge of this county, has a good stock of
cattle and a section or so of land. He was a good man in Young county
and has not changed. This town is largely under the control of German,
Mr. Chas. Schreiner, who has recently built an enormous storehouse, has
as fine a private residence as it to be found in West Texas, and in
fact owns everything--cattle, sheep mills, freight trains, land in vast
bodies, and his hand is felt everywhere. The town of Kerrville seemed
to be a little turbulent while I was there. I heard one man tell
another that he would give him 'till 2 o'clock to leave, if he was not
gone then he would be perforated, that is, his hid would not look well
tanned. I thought the party addressed was a renter, probably, but
subsequently ascertained that he was the stepfather of the frateman. I
afterwards saw him oiling up a decisive looking shot-gun and supposed
that he had concluded to remain. ...
The sheriff told me that
there was considerable horse stealing going on and from other signs I
thought I saw blood in the moon, hence I say it was somewhat turbulent.
The country throughout the county is splendid for stock....I found the best watered portion of the state.

San Antonio Light, October 11, 1883
W. B. Mullins, Kerr county, at the St. Leonard hotel.

The Graham Leader, October 13, 1883
Dolf's Rambling Reminiscences
From Fredericksburg to Kerrville is 25 miles, over a beautiful stretch of wood-land intersected by refreshing streams, such as Oak Creek, the Pertenalls [sic], Bear Creek, and Wolf Creek--all ever flowing water-courses. ... Arriving at Kerrville at noon I spend the time fishing during the day, and coon, fox and wild-cat hunting at night. Having to remain here a week, I have had ample time for amusement and I have put all my energy into the occupation. On one occasion, being accompanied by an ex-Young county citizen, W. F. James, now county judge here, I averaged from ten to fifteen nice fish each day--being also accompanied by other guests of the hotel we have kept the table well supplied. I find a class of people here much above the average in intelligence and culture. This place, like Fredericksburg, is a great resort for invalids and many men of wealth finding benefit have located permanently in this beautiful river--the Guadalupe. There are here an unusually large settlement of Englishmen, who seem well to do--pushing, progressive and prosperous. I have found a stay here very agreeable and quit the hospitable place with regret.

Galveston Daily News, October 20, 1883
Colonel Collindar Fayssoux, of New Orleans, is in the city en route to a visit to his son-in-law in Kerr county. He is receiving the attentions due to the men who figured conspicuously in the cause of Texas. He is the gallant young midshipman who fought with Commodore Moore, of the Texas navy, off the coast of Yucatan, with the Mexican navy in 1843 and who was afterward so conspicuous in the Lopez expedition ....Colonel Fayssoux is still strong and vigorous, and enjoys the decline of his years in the peace of a loved family.

San Antonio Light, October 20, 1883
This morning a surveying party number 14 were sent out by the Engineer of the Sunset railroad, to survey a line between Bandera and Kerrville, with a view to building a railroad.

San Antonio Light, October 23, 1883
J. Patterson, a prominent stockman of Kerrville, is at the Central.

San Antonio Light, November 14, 1883
The committee appointed for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions to the capital stock of the Gulf, San Antonio, Colorado City and Kansas City railroad, will call on our business men in a day or two in the interest of that enterprise.... [Description of the proposed route given here.]

San Antonio Light, November 22, 1883
The Southwestern Christian association met this morning ....
Among the delegates who were present were G. L. Serber, Kerrville.

San Antonio Light, December 19, 1883
At the St. Leonard Hotel, G. H. Hughes, Kerrville

Galveston Daily News, December 24, 1883
Kerrville is having quite a building boom.

San Antonio Light, July 14, 1883
An Englishman Receives Information that he is Joint Heir to $98,000.
Mr. W. A. Cooper, a well known and highly respected Englishman, of Kerrville, called upon the Light office this morning where he informed the Light staff of his having become the posessor of $98,000. A short while ago Mrs. Cooper left this town for New York to attend the pending case in regard to the will of her late trustee, Dr. Pierre Courtland Van Wyck, Superintendent of the Assay office, New York, and an old person friend of President Arthur. Mrs. Cooper was the adopted daughter of the deceased gentleman, who was her trustee to the amount of $36,000, besides which she claimed interest in the property on account of a will which ws duly signed and drawn up in 1881, but which as yet is not forthcoming. The attorneys on the opposite side compromised the case, and handed over one-fourth of the property to Mrs. Cooper, which, together with her former amount, equals $98,000. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper will improve their property in Kerrville, which town they have already done their utmost for, but are not certain as to their place of residence. Mr. Cooper thinks San Francisco will be their next move. The Light congratulates the couple on their good fortune.
[Story also reported in the Laredo (TX) Times, July 19, 1883)

San Antonio Light, July 19, 1883
J. Vining, sheepman of Kerrville is sojourning at the Central.

San Antonio Light, July 19, 1883
Kerrville Kernels
Send me your paper. I guess you know me, as I am the fellow that sold the barrel of flour for a barrel of lime.
Kerr county is booming since the rain, and crop prospects are very good, though some of the corn was cut short by the drouth. Cotton is looking fine.
Kerrville is looking up. Mr. Charles Schreiner has moved into the new store building, which would be a credit to any town in Texas.
Coleman & Son's have their store full of goods, and are doing a splendid business.
There is some talk of a fine hotel being built in this town in the near future.
[Story also appears in the Galveston Daily News, July 27, 1883.]

San Antonio Light, July 25, 1883
J. C. W. Ingram, ranchero of Kerr county, is staying at the Central.

San Antonio Light, August 3, 1883
J. M. Starkey, ranchero of Kerr county, is at the Central.

San Antonio Light, August 8, 1883
County Judge Mason has received a courteous letter from the County Judge of Kerr county stating that Bexar county's claim of $160, for the keeping of Kerr county prisoners in the jail here, will be considered at the next meeting.
[Galveston Daily News, October 2, 1883] Kerr county has settled its indebitness in full with Bexar county]

San Antonio Light, August 15, 1883
A. T. Oakley, C. M. Coleman, Kerrville ... are at the St. Leonard.

Galveston Daily News, August 17, 1883
Bandera Bugle. On Monday Deputy Sheriff Denison, of Kerrville, turned over to Jailer McCarthy a man named Turner, charged with killing a man named Tillery at Green Lake, at the head of the Llano.

San Antonio Light, August 27, 1883
J. L. Vining, son of an extensive wool grower of Kerr county, is staying at the Central.
J. C. W. Ingram and Frank Coleman, prominent citizens of Kerrville, are at the Central.

San Antonio Light, August 28, 1883
W. R. Roper, a prosperous English of Kerr county, engaged in the sheep business, is at the Central.

San Antonio Light, August 31, 1883
Texas Still Ahead.
Three of a kind beats two pair, and thus it may be said that Kerr county holds the best hand in the cattle game, for it has three queens and one kings, and claims high from the fact that Mr. James Matthews, of Verde creek, near Centre Point, has a cow which brought forth four well developed calves, one male and three females, all being hearty and doing well. They are now about two weeks old.

San Antonio Light, September 6, 1883
William L. James and D. E. Farr, of Kerrville, are guests at the Central.

Galveston Daily News, September 19, 1883
On Thursday next the match race--one fourth mile dash, for $1000 a side--will take place at the Fair ground. A. G. Secrest of Kerr county, enters his gray mare Alborie.

San Antonio Light, September 20, 1883
From the list of grand and petit jurors summoned to serve at the October term of the federal court: R. P. Jarmon, Kerrville; H. L. Nelson, Kerr county

San Antonio Light, September 21, 1883
The Rev. A. Taylor goes to Kerrville tomorrow to take charge of the church there.

San Antonio Evening Light, February 6, 1883
Mr. Constant de Wael has arrived here from Junction City. He reports that between Kerrville and Boerne the stage in which he was riding fell from an embankment a distance of some fifteen feet but that the passengers, three in number, were not injured.

San Antonio Daily Express, February 22, 1883
Wanted by the Commissioners of Kerr County, Texas.
Plans and estimates of cost to be submitted to the...courthouse in Kerrville, on the first day of May 1883, for a jail and addition to courthouse not to exceed a cost of twelve thousand dollars.

Galveston Daily News, March 2, 1883
From Bandera Bugle: We have heard that Mr. Oakly, of Kerrville, has lost 14,400 head of sheep, and Mr. Scott has lost severely too. All over the northern part of the county the sheep are very badly scattered, and it impossible to get them all together.

San Antonio Evening Light, March 12, 1883
Representative Scott and Miss Scott passed through the city en route to Kerrville.

San Antonio Evening Light, March 24, 1883
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Page, of Kerrville, ... are guests at the Vance hotel.

Galveston Daily News, April 7, 1883
The Junction City Texas tells how a sensible and kind-hearted merchant took an improvident farmer out of the slough of despond:
Mr. Chas. Schreiner, who lives in Kerrville, had a customer who was rather reckless of his ways and means. He had run a large account in the store, and had given a mortgage in a sufficient amount to cover his entire estate, and there was no indication of the man holding up, and there were no indications of his paying the debt. Mr. Schreiner said to the man: "See here, let me manage for a while, and see if I can't bring you out of debt." The man said agreed. Mr. Schreiner went out to the farm and said to the man: "Now plant this field in wheat, this one in oats, this one in corn, and this one in cotton." And when the man sent his wagon to the store for supplies, Mr. Schreiner took the bill and cut it down about one-half, and said to the man: "Now try and see if you can't get along with that. This was kept up for two years, when the man paid every cent he owed, and had some to spare.

San Antonio Light, April 12, 1883
Mr. W. N. Cooper, of Kerrville is a guest at the Hord hotel. Mr. W. N. Cooper is an Englishman who is editor and proprietor of the Kerr county Chronicle, which is shortly to be started in Kerrville.